Oh Seattle. After a record-breaking 77 day streak of dry, sunny days, the rain and grey skies are back. I’m one of the weird people that doesn’t mind this weather so much. Hunters make these days that much more bearable. If you’ve been coveting them for a while, you might need some help narrowing down the perfect pair for you.

So are Hunters worth the price tag? I’d say they are, especially if you live in a climate that you will get a fair amount of use out of them. Mine are in perfect condition 2 years after purchasing them. I’ve owned even higher priced rain boots in the past that didn’t survive a year without leaking. I recommend purchasing from Nordstrom for their great return policy.

Should I go classic and get black or a buy a fun color? I have the tall gloss black and absolutely love them. They go with everything! It really comes down to personal preference. There’s a few colors that are incredibly versatile like the signature new green and aubergine. If you have mostly neutral or black outerwear, I’d spring for a color. My favorite standouts are the pillar box red, vintage yellow and steel blue tall gloss styles.

What’s the difference between the gloss finish and the classic finish? The gloss finish is a lot shinier in person. If latex was leather, the gloss would be like a patent finish. The classic finish is matte and it blooms, which is when natural latex releases a white waxy film to protect itself from the natural elements (heat, humidity). Here’s a photo of a pair of Hunters that have bloomed quite a bit:

Am I supposed to remove the bloom? No, it’s really not necessary! A lot of people love the look for the character it gives the boots. If you’re not a fan, you can remove it with castor oil, coconut oil, ArmorAll wipes or a product created by Hunter called the Boot Buffer.

I’m a late 20-something living in Seattle. I’ve spent the last decade working and living in Miami, Milan and New York City and love the different looks of each locale. I’ll be sharing some of my favorite shoe and accessory looks and the history of the designers behind them.